Display motor



June 3, 1952 s. M. WENGEL DISPLAY MOTOR Filed July 29 1950 INVENTOR.

She/don M. Wengel www,

Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT ortica DISPLAY MOTO-R SheldonM. Wengel, Reedsburg, Wist.

Application July. 29, 1950, Serial No. 176,588

lThis invention` relates to improvements in display motors intendedprimarily for actuating a display device, such as. kone used foradvertising purposes, wherein a movable part is given a continuingoscillatory movement by theY operation of ther motor.

The. principal object of the invention is to provide a simple andeiiicient device which may be constructed at small cost and which willoperate continuously without attention and without objectionable. noise.More particularly, the invention comprises an oscillatory device adaptedto be moved by the intermittent energization of a solenoid which repelsa magnet forming its core or armature so that repeated impulses are im,-parted to the device in response to its own movements. The improveddisplay motor is capable of being operated upon a dry cell battery orthe like and is so constructed that its operation may be convenientlydiscontinued by the simple operation of removing the battery. Otherobjects and advantages of the invention relate to various features ofconstruction, arrangement and mode of operation which will appear morefully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the followingspecification taken with the accompanying drawings in which oneembodiment is illustrated. In'the drawings,

Figure l shows a partial front elevation of a type of a displayv devicehaving a movable part adapted to be oscillated by the display motor ofthe 'present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the improved displaymotor of the present invention;

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged end elevation of the motor illustrated in Fig.2-With a portion of the display device illustratedin Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view taken on the line del of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the circuit connections of theoperatingparis 0f the display motor illustrated lin Figs. 2, 3 and el.

Display motors of the type to which the present invention relates areadapted to be employed in injunction with display cards used. .foradvertising purposes, `such as the card IEI shown in Fig. l which hasdepicted thereon a representation of two wrestlers II and I2. The upperpart oi the body 0i the Wrestler Il and the body of the Wrestler l2 areformed on a sheet of cardboard which isseparate from `that of thecardboard lo this movable vsheet I3 is adapted to be mounted upon anoscillatory devise Susi! as the shaftof a display motor.

11 Claims. (Cl. 172-126) The improved display motor of the presentinvention is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 whereit is shown ascomprising two lJ-shaped frame members Ill and l5. One frame member I4has its arms Illa. directed downwardly. and apertures hib and Mc thesearms are, adapted t0 be snapped into engagement with the usual contactterminals at the end of a d ry cell battery I6. The transverse wall 14dof the frame member I4 is secured tol the transverse wall ld of themember I5 which is arranged Wthits arms lia extending vertically inplanes which are transverse t0 the planes. 0f the arms Illa, as shownparticularly in Fig. 2. A shaft Il is. journals@ in the upper ends 0fthe arms 15a and has one end reversely bent to form a loop Ila wnieh isadapted to be snapped into engagement with a suitable fastening deviceat the rear of the card I3 so that when the shaft Il is oscillated inits bearings a corresponding oscillatory movement will be imparted tothe card I3 which bears the representations of the wrestler I2 and theupper partof the body of the wrestler II. A U-shaped metal clip I8extends across the top ends of the arms I5a and the downturned ends I8aof this clip are apertured for engagement by the shaft I1, thus formingan electric connection between the opposite arms Ia. A plate 20 formedof lead or the like is attached to the shaft l1 beneath the clip I8 toserve as a counterweight for the card I3 which is to be os.- cillated bythe shaft. This counterweight 29 has upwardly extending ears 29a. whichare apertured for engagement by the shaft I1 and it is otherwise securedas hereinafter described.

A solenoid 22 is seated upon the back wall ld of the frame member I5between the parallel arms I5a. This solenoid comprises a central spool22a. formed of insulating material, end plates 22h which are also formedof insulating material, and the winding 22e. The aperture 2 whichextends through the spool 22a is adapted to receive an arcuate actuatingmember 23 which may be formed of eopper wireor the like and whichcomprises a semicircular. portion 23a connected to inwardly extendingarms 23h having their inner extremities soldered or otherwise secured tothe shaft I1 and to the counterweight 29. The counterweight ispreferably provided with flanges 2Gb which are bent upwardly on oppositesides of the arms 23h of the actuating member for holding the parts moresecurely7 in assembled relation. Thus, the actuating member 23 is freeto oscillate through the central bore of the spool 2,211. of thesolenoid in response to the oscillations of the shaft I1,

central portion of the arcuate part 23d of the actuating member 23 issubstantially straight as shown at 23e and this part has mounted thereonthe permanently magnetized core 25 of the solenoid 22. This core mightbe formed of iron or other magnetizable material but much better resultsare obtained if it is formed as a permanent magnet, preferably a magnetformed of a suitable metal alloy, such as an alloy known to the trade asAlnico V, marketed by the Indiana Steel Products Company of Chicago,Illinois, which consists of 8 parts of aluminum, 14 parts of nickel, 24parts of cobalt, 3 parts of copper, and the remaining 51 parts of iron.When the solenoid 22 is energized, the magnetized core 25 is repelledendwise, thus causing the actuating member 23 to impart an oscillatorymovement to the shaft I1 whereby a corresponding movement of the card I3is effected.

For the purpose of energizing the solenoid 22 periodically, there isprovided an electric circuit 2B, shown in Fig. 5, which includes thewinding 22e of the solenoid, the battery I6, and two contacts 29 andail. The contact 29 is in the form of a small metal plate secured to anddepending from the underside of the counterweight 20, as shownparticularly in Fig. 4. When the actuating member 23 and the magnet 25are in their normal positions, the contact 29 overlaps slightly theupper end of the contact 30 which is in the form of a metal leaf springhaving its lower end secured to a bracket 3| which is secured to an armI5a of the frame member I5 and insulated therefrom by members 32. Thiscontact spring is connected to one terminal of the winding 22o of thesolenoid and the other end of the winding is connected to the terminalof the battery I6 as indicated diagrammatically at I6 in Fig. 5. Theelectric circuit represented by the conductor 26 in Fig. 5 is formed bythe counterweight 20, the shaft Il, and the frame I5 so that when thetwo contacts 29 and 30 are engaged, the circuit is completed and animpulse is imparted to the actuating member 23 as a result of thereaction between the solenoid and the permanent mag net 25.

The contact spring 39 is of substantial length and is adapted to retaincontact with the contact member 29 through a limited arc of travel ofthe member 29, whereupon the contact is broken, the solenoid isdeenergized, and the permanent magnet 25 and the shaft I1 returned totheir initial positions, whereupon the contact is again completed andnew impulses imparted to the actuating member 23 and the shaft, thusmoving the shaft and the display card I3 through a substantial angle inthe opposite direction. For example, if the permanent magnet 25 ismagnetized with the south pole thereof to the right and the north polethereof to the left as seen in Fig. 4 and if the solenoid is wound sothat energization thereof produces a south pole at the right end thereofand a north pole at the left end thereof, the respective poles of themagnet 25 and the solenoid 22 will repel each other. Consequently, themagnet 25 and the actuating member 23 will then swing in its arc oftravel, for example, to the left. As soon as the south pole of themagnet passes the center of the solenoid 22, the north pole of the coilwill then begin to attract the south pole of the magnet in order furtherto propel the magnet to the left. However, before the right end or southpole of the magnet reaches the left end or north pole of the solenoid intraveling to the left the contacts 29 and 30 will separate and interruptthe energizing circuit for ,the solenoid 22 to permit the magnet 25, dueto its momentum, to continue swinging in its arc of travel to the leftbeyond the left end of the solenoid. After the peak of the left-handswing or travel of the magnet 25 is reached, it starts its return swingto the right. After the center of the magnet 25 reaches the center ofthe solenoid. as it swings to the right, the contacts 29 and 35 arereclosed in order to reenergize the solenoid. 22. By the time thesolenoid is fully energized,` the momentum of the magnet 25 in swingingtoward the right, carries the center thereof a slight distance to theright of the center of the solenoid. Consequently, the south and northpoles of the permanent magnet 25 will now be repelled toward the rightby the respective south and north poles of the solenoid 22. Also, assoon as the left or north pole of the magnet 25 passes the center of thesolenoid 25 it will be further attracted by the right or south pole ofthe solenoid 22 in order further to propel the magnet toward the right.Before the north pole or left end of the magnet 25 reaches the southpole or right end of the solenoid 22 in its travel toward the right, thecontacts 29 and 30 are again separated in order to interrupt theenergizing circuit for the solenoid 22. This permits the magnet 25, dueto its momentum, to swing in its arc of travel toward the right somedistance beyond the right end of the solenoid. After the magnet 25reaches the peak of the right end swing it starts its return swingtoward the left whereby the above described cycle of operation isrepeated. In this way, there is provided a self-operating device whichcontinually makes and breaks contact and which continues in operation aslong as the battery Iii supplies energy to the circuit.

One terminal 34 of the battery I6 is connected by a conductor 35 to aterminal of the solenoid winding 22e opposite that to which the leafspring 30 is connected and the other terminal of the battery isconnected to the frame I4 through the cup-shaped socket I4c. The frameI4 is somewhat resilient so that the battery I5 may be readily snappedinto and out of engagement with the frame I4 and, when it is desired tostop the operation of the device, the battery I5 may be readily removedfor that purpose.

The arm I5a of the upper frame member I5 adjacent to the fitting I'Iawhich is provided on the shaft, is provided with two metal clips 55which are riveted to the arm I5a at their upper ends and which havetheir outer ends spaced therefrom so that they may receive on theirinner sides, between their offset portions and the arm I5a,"the bodyportion of the card I0, as shown in Fig. 3. The clips 35 are passed intoengagement with the card I0 by being inserted through apertures IIlawhich are formed in the card. By this arrangement, the display motor maybe readily attached to a display card associated with the part which isto be oscillated.

In order to prevent excessive vibration of the contact spring 30 and theexcessive noise which sometimes accompanies such Vibration, a smallsheet of felt 36 or the like is slitted longitudinally as shown at 36aand engaged by the leaf spring between its xed support and the upperfree end thereof, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 2 and 3. It hasbeen found that this sheet of felt which bears against an arm I5a of theframe I5 at its upper end and against the top of the solenoid at itslower end iseifective in preventing undue vibration of the contactspring so that the oscillatory device operates with a minimum of noise.

It will be apparent that the duration ofthe energization of the solenoidand the amount of power exerted thereby in applying impulses to thepermanent magnetic core may be regulated by varying the length ofeitherl of the contacts 29 or 30, in order to vary the length of timethey remain in contact.` When the spring 30 is flexed to a predeterminedextent the end of the spring snaps under the end of the contact 2S andthen occupies a position on the other side thereof upon the returnstroke of the actuating member 23. In this way the solenoid repels themagnet in both directions with the same force with two impulses for eachcycle.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by wayof illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed invarious other embodiments which come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A' display motor comprising, a pivotally mounted member adapted to beoscillated, an actuating member connected to said pivotally mountedmember, a permanent magnet mounted on said actuating member, a solenoidsurrounding said magnet for oscillating said magnet by alternatelyrepelling the same in opposite directions in response to successiveenergizations of said solenoid, an electric circuit for energizing saidsolenoid, and means including a single pair of contacts for closing saidcircuit each time said permanent magnet passes through the samepredetermined point in its oscillatory movement through said solenoid,whereby said solenoid is successively energized to alternately repelsaid magnet in first and second directions away therefrom.

2. A display motor comprising, a pivotally mounted member adapted to beoscillated, an actuating member connected to said pivotally mountedmember, a permanent magnet mounted on said actuating member, a solenoidsurrounding said magnet for controlling oscillatory movement of saidpermanent magnet each time it passes through said solenoid, a rstcontact movable with said pivotally mounted member, a second contactadapted to be temporarily engaged by said first contact each time saidmagnet passes through a predetermined point of said solenoid duringoscillatory movement, and an electric circuit for completing anenergizing circuit for said solenoid to control said oscillatorymovement of said magnet each time said contacts are temporarily engaged.

3. A display motor comprising, a pivotally mounted member adapted to beoscillated, an actuating member connected to said pivotally mountedmember, a permanent magnet mounted on said actuating member, a solenoidsurrounding said magnet for controlling oscillatory movement of saidpermanent magnet each time said magnet passes through said solenoid, afirst contact movable with said pivotally mounted member, a secondcontact in the form of a leaf spring fixed at one end and having itsfree end positioned to be engaged by said first contact each time saidmagnet passes through a predetermined point of said solenoid and to movetherewith through a predetermined path of travel of said magnet beforesaid first contact is separated therefrom, a battery, and an electriccircuit including said contacts and said battery for energizing saidsolenoid to control said oscillatory movement of said permanent magnetduring the time interval said contacts are engaged.

4. A display motor comprising, a pivotally mounted member adapted to beoscillated, an actuating member connected to said pivotally mountedmember, a permanent magnet mounted on said actuating member, a solenoidsurrounding said magnet for controlling oscillatory movement of saidpermanent magnet each time said magnet passes through said solenoid, afirst contact movable with said pivotally mounted member, a secondcontact in the form of a leaf spring fixed at one end and having itsfree end positioned to be engaged by said first contact eachtime saidmagnet passes through a predetermined point of said solenoid and to movetherewith through a predetermined path of travel of said magnet beforesaid first contactis separated therefrom, a battery, an electric circuitincluding said contacts and said battery for energizing said solenoidduring the time interval said contacts are engaged, and means fordamping the vibrations of said second contact.

5. The combination in a display motor, of a U- shaped bracket, a shaftjournaled in the arms of said bracket, means for connecting said shaftwith a member to be oscillated, a solenoid having its spool extendingtransversely to the axis of said shaft, an actuating member transverselysecured to said shaft, a permanent magnet supported within said spool bysaid actuating member `and adapted to be repelled from said spool bymagnetic repulsion to oscillate said shaft each time said solenoid isenergized, a first contact, a second contact secured to said shaft formomentarily engaging said second contact each time said magnet passesthrough the center of said spool in opposite directions, and anelectrical circuit including said first and second contacts formomentarily energizing said solenoid each time said'first and secondcontacts are closed in order to generate suiiicient magnetism to propelsaid permanent magnet.

6. 'I'he combination in a display motor, of a U-shaped bracket, a shaftjournaled in the arms of said bracket, means for connecting said shaftwith a member to be oscillated, a solenoid secured between the arms ofsaid bracket and having a central aperture directed transversely to theaxis of said shaft, an actuating member' transversely secured to saidshaft, a leaf spring fixed at one end and extending toward said shaft, acontact fixed on said shaft for te. porarily engaging said leaf springeach time said shaft is oscillated, a battery, an electric circuitincluding said leaf spring and said contact and said battery forenergizing said solenoid to generate a magnetic force, and a permanentmagnet secured to said actuating member for longitudinal movementthrough said aperture in opposite directions to control saidoscillations of said shaft, said magnetic force generated by saidsolenoid repelling said permanent magnet alternately in oppositedirections in response to successive energizations of said solenoid.

'7. The combination in a display motor, of a U-shaped bracket, a shaftjournaled in the arms of said bracket, means for connecting said shaftwith a member to be oscillated, a solenoid secured between the arms ofsaid bracket and having a central aperture directed transversely to theaxis of said shaft, an actuating member transversely secured to saidshaft, a leaf spring fixed at one end and extending toward said shaft, acontact fixed on said shaft for temporarily engaging said leaf springeach time said shaft is oscillated, a battery, an electric circuitincluding said leaf spring and said contact and said battery forenergizing said solenoid to generate a magnetic force, a permanentmagnet secured on said actuating member for longitudinal movementthrough said aperture in opposite directions to control saidoscillations of said shaft, said `magnetic force generated by saidsolenoid repelling said magnet in said opposite directions in responseto successive energizations of said solenoid, and a strip of nonmetallicmaterial engaged by said leaf spring between its ends to dampen thevibration thereof.

8. A direct current motor comprising, in combination, a solenoid havinga central opening therethrough, a permanent magnet mounted foroscillatory movement through said solenoid opening, a direct currentcircuit for energizing said solenoid, energization of said solenoid whensaid magnet is moving in a first direction and when the center of saidmagnet is at the approximate center of said solenoid producing a forcethat repels and then attracts said magnet further in said firstdirection and energization of said solenoid when said magnet is movingin a second direction and when the center of said magnet is at theapproximate center of said solenoid producing a force that repels andthen attracts said magnet in said second direction, and contact meanscontrolled each time the center of said magnet is moved in eitherdirection through the approximate center of said solenoid for closingsaid circuit and con trolled each time the center of said magnet ismoved in either direction somewhat beyond the approximate center of saidsolenoid for opening said circuit.

9. A. direct current motor comprising, in combination, a frame memberfor said motor including two upstanding spaced apart plates, a solenoidsupported between said upstanding plates and having an aperturetherethrough, a shaft supported .between said plates for oscillatoryrotary movement, an actuating member secured to said shaft between saidplates, a permanent magnet secured to said actuating member and adaptedto swing through said aperture in opposite directions, a contact securedto one of said plates, a battery, a clamp securing said battery to saidframe member, a rst circuit including in series one terminal of saidbattery and said solenoid and said contact, a second circuit includingin series another terminal of said battery and said clamp and said frameand said shaft, and means controlled by oscillatory movement of saidshaft for momentarily interconnecting said first and second circuits tomomentarily energize said solenoid each time said permanent magnetswings through the aperture in said solenoid in either direction,momentary energization of said solenoid producing a force that propelssaid magnet away from said solenoid in a first direction when saidmagnet is moving in said first direction and momentary energization ofsaid solenoid producing a force that propels said magnet away from saidsolenoid in a second direction when said magnet is moving in said seconddirection, said movement of said magnet alternately in said rst andsecond directions controlling said actuating member to oscillate saidshaft.

10. A direct current motor comprising, in combination, a solenoid havinga central opening therethrough, a pivotal shaft, a permanent magnetconnected to said shaft for swinging movement in opposite directionsthrough the opening in said solenoid, a direct current circuit forenergizing said solenoid, and contact means controlled each time thecenter of said magnet swings through the center of said solenoid forcompleting said circuit and for then interrupting said circuit as soonas the center of said magnet reaches a predetermined point beyond thecenter of said solenoid, said energizations of said solenoid generatinga repelling force to propel said magnet away from said solenoid in thesame direction that said magnet is swinging through said solenoid.

11. The combination set forth in ciaim 8, wherein said permanent magnetand said energized solenoid are arranged with like magnetic poles atcorresponding ends thereof.

SHELDON M. 'vi/'ENGEL REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 671,660 Schmelz Apr. 9, 19011,893,025 Gregory Jan. 3, 1933 2,109,953 Bates Mar. 1, 1938 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 35,885 Austria Jan. 25, 1009

